Minnesota at Wisconsin College Basketball Picks & Predictions 1/3/2019

Thursday, January 3, 2019

Kohl Center

Get todays College basketball odds and lines on this game.

The Minnesota Golden Gophers head to Kohl Center to take on the Wisconsin Badgers on Thursday, January 3, 2019. The opening line for this game has Wisconsin as 11.5 point favorites.

Minnesota comes into this game with an overall record of 11-2. They currently have a point differential of 7.8 as they are averaging 76.2 points per game while giving up 68.4 per contest. Wisconsin has an overall record of 10-3. They are averaging 76.5 points per game and surrendering 63.2, good for a point differential of 13.2.

Valuable Minnesota Golden Gophers Betting Trends

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 5-8-0 against the spread this season

The Minnesota Golden Gophers are 6-6-1 against the over/under this year

Important Wisconsin Badgers Betting Trends

The Wisconsin Badgers are 7-6-0 against the spread this season

The Wisconsin Badgers are 9-4-0 against the over/under this year

Key Minnesota Golden Gophers Injuries

11/08/18 G Marcus Carr Eligibility is out indefinitely

Key Wisconsin Badgers Injuries

12/02/18 G Trevor Anderson Knee is out for season

Player Spotlight

Jordan Murphy comes into this game averaging 15.7 points per contest while playing 30.1 minutes per night this year. He grabs 12.6 rebounds per contest and distributes 2.9 assists per game. His FG percentage is 57% while his free throw percentage is 69%. Amir Coffey averages 15.1 points per contest in 32.1 minutes per game. He averages 3.2 assists per game and 2.9 rebounds per contest. His field goal percentage is 44% for the season while his free throw percentage is 73%.

Player Spotlight

Ethan Happ scores 19.2 points per contest while playing 31.5 minutes per game. He hauls in 10.7 rebounds per contest and has 4.8 assists per game on the season. His FG percentage is 57% and his free throw percentage is at 52%. D'Mitrik Trice averages 15.5 points per game this year and he sees the court an average of 32.3 minutes per game. He also brings in 3.8 rebounds per game and has 2.8 assists per contest. His field goal percentage is 49% and his free throw percentage is 71%.

Useful Team Statistics

Minnesota averages 76.2 points per contest, which is 133rd in D-1. Their average scoring margin is 7.8 and their shooting percentage is 44% as a unit, which has them ranked 218th. From 3-point territory they shoot 31%, which is good for 303rd in the nation. They average 40.8 boards per contest and 15.5 assists per game, which ranks them 29th and 71st in those offensive categories. In the turnover department they are 173rd with 13.5 per game. The Golden Gophers allow 68.4 points per contest, which is 106th in the NCAA. They also surrender a 42% shooting percentage and a 35% average from 3-point range, ranking them 126th and 247th in defensive field goal percentage. Opponents average 33.7 rebounds a game which ranks 115th, and they allow 11.5 assists per game which puts them in 82nd place in the country. They force 13.1 turnovers per game which ranks them 113th in Division 1.

Useful Team Statistics

Wisconsin is 125th in the nation with 76.5 points per contest this season. They are 26th in the country in shooting at 49%, while their average scoring margin is 13.2. They shoot 39% from beyond the arc, which is good for 30th in the NCAA. They are 218th in D-1 in rebounding with 35.5 boards per contest and 151st in assists per game with 14.2. The Badgers are 349th in turnovers per contest with 9.2. The Badgers give up 63.2 points per game, which ranks them 34th in Division 1. Their defense surrenders a 41% shooting percentage and a 31% average from behind the 3-point line, ranking them 76th and 64th in those defensive statistics. They rank 37th with 10.5 dimes allowed per game and 71st with 32.5 boards surrendered per contest. The Badgers are 41st in the nation in forcing turnovers with 11.8 per contest this year.

Advanced Statistics

The Golden Gophers have an offensive rating of 107.8, which is ranked 118th. They are 177th in college basketball in pace with 70.7 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 49% is 275th. As a unit they are 241st in the nation in true shooting percentage with 53% and they shoot 3-pointers on 30% of their shot attempts, ranking 332nd in D-1. Minnesota is 219th in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 15.7 times per 100 possessions.

Advanced Statistics

Wisconsin is 346th in the country in turnovers, as they turn the ball over an average of 12.2 times per 100 possessions. The Badgers have an offensive rating of 113.2, which is ranked 43rd. They are 324th in D-1 in pace with 66.9 possessions per 40 minutes, and their eFG% of 56% is 32nd. As a unit they are 48th in college basketball in true shooting percentage with 58% and they shoot 3-pointers on 35% of their shot attempts, ranking 252nd in the country.

Who will win tonight's Minnesota/Wisconsin college basketball game against the spread?

Tony's Pick: Take Minnesota +11.5

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